Ruling machine



y H. E. LINDBLADH 1,813,940

RULING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A rum/VB:

July 14, 1931. E UNDB ADH 1,813,940

RULING VMACHINE p 17, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVEN 727/7. 1m

July 14, 1931. UNDBLADH 1,813,940

RULING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTU/ VNEK July 14, 1931. I H. E. LINDBLADH RULING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY \Xm W A 7 7 L7/1 /VE X.

Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARMON' E. 'LINDBIJADH; OF IBROOIKII'JINIZ, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIND- BLADH CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS RULING MACHINE Application filed September 17, 1921. Serial No. 501,227.

My invention more particularly concerns duplex ruling machines, or those in which sheets or like objects, after having drawn upon them by a ruling apparatus lines parallel to one another and to the edges of the sheets, are delivered to another apparatus to produce upon the sheets similarly disposed lines, intersecting or extending in another direction. So far as I am aware, no such machine has heretofore been so organized that lines ruled by the second-acting apparatus can be caused to begin or terminate in definite controlled relation to the lines of the apparatus acting first, the second apparatus of prior organizations being used only for the so-called faint or cross ruling, in which the lines extend unbroken from one edge of a sheet to the other. In the present machine, complete control is given df the strike of the pens, or other ruling devices, of both apparatus to accurately locate the ends of the lines atany desired points across the sheets. At the same time, independent control is so maintained of the advance or delivery of the sheets to the ruling devices of both apparatus, that sheets of all dimensions, either longitudinal or transverse within the range of the machine, may be operated upon without affecting the pen-control. While, as indicated, the invention is of especial utility in connection with duplex machines, it will be obvious that it is by no means limited thereto, but that certain features are equally applicable to single or to multiplex machines, as those of the two-deck type.

One of the many embodiments which my invention may assume is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, an L-form of duplex machine being shown. In Figure 1 this machine appears diagrammatically in top plan; Fig. 2 is a similar view, enlarged, with the elements shown in detail and portions broken away; Fig. 3 is an elevation of the first ruling apparatus, looking toward the end at which the transferring mechanism is located; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the transferring mechanism and the adjacent end of the second-operating machine, parts being broken away; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the more essential ortions of the transferring mechanism; ig. 6 is a transverse section through the gage of the transferring mechanism and a air of the rebound-preventing rolls; Fig. is a central vertical section through one of the shows two portions of one of the transferring devices separated; Fig. 9 illustrates in broken perspective the actuatin crank. for the feeding mechanism of one o the ruling apparatus; and Fig. 10 is a sectional detail, particularly illustrating the bridging device between the conveyors of the first-acting ruling apparatus and the transferring mechanism.

I Similar characters of reference designate like partsthroughout the'several figures of the drawings.

The L-machine illustrated is made u of two ruling apparatus A and B, having t eir frames extending substantially at right angles to one another and joined by an 1ntermediate transferring mechanism C, portions of which are carried by the frame of the apparatus A. This transferring mechanism is organized to receive the sheets ruled by the first-acting apparatus A and to so deliver them to the second-acting apparatus B that they are thereby provided upon the same side with lines intersectin duced by the apparatus A. hese ruling apparatus are not necessarily of any particular design, but to obtain the full benefits of the invention, such an organization as is the subject of Patent No. 1,242,823, issued in my name Oct. 9, 1917, should be employed. Reference may be had to the specification of this patent for a complete disclosure. Here it need only be said, .referrin particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, t at upon the frame 10 of apparatus A are journaled feed-rolls 12, 12, these rolls forming a part of the sheet-advancing system by which said sheets are carried to pens or-other ruling devices 14;, movablymounted and governed through levers'16 from actuating cams 18. The time .of delivery of the sheets to the ruling devices is controlled by some such those prosectors or transferring devices; Fig. 8

device as an oscillatory gate member 20 under the influence of a cam 22. These cams, both for governing the pens and gates, are carried upon a shaft 24 journaled transversely of the frame upon brackets and driven through change-speed gearing 26, from one of the rolls 12, which is, in turn rotated by a motor M mounted upon the 'rame. Obviously any other suitable source of power may be employed.

The sheet-advancing system more especially belonging to'the ruling apparatus A includes an endless conveyor or cloth 30, operating at its forward extremity upon a roll 32 rotatable in bearings at opposite sides of the lower portion of the frame. This conveyor delivers sheets to a second endless conveyor, furnished by strings 34 running at one end over a roll 36, the axis of which is parallel to the roll 32 and which is similarly journaled in the frame, while at their opposite extremities these strings are supported by individual grooved rolls 38 (Fig. 3) mounted to turn in brackets 40 carried along a rod 42 spanning the end of the frame of the apparatus A. The brackets and rolls are adjustable upon the rod for a purpose which will shortly appear, being fined in place at the desired points by setscrews 44 threaded through the brackets and contacting with the rod. Between the rolls 32 and 36, and consequently between the uper runs of the conveyors 30 and 34, is a -shaped space, into which the forward ends of the sheets advancing with the conveyor 30 are liable to be drawn, especially if a charge of static electricity exists in the machine. To avoid this divergence of the sheets from their normal ath, have provided between the runs of t e strings 34 an idle roll 46, rotatable in bearings upon the frame 10 and having operating over it endless memhere or strings 48 (Figs. 2 and 10), which from this roll pass rearwardl over the surface of the cloth 30 and then eneath it back to the roll 46. These strings 48, moving idly with the cloth 30, bridge the space hechanging the direction of their a tween it and the succeeding conveyor or strings 34, and insure the proper advance of the sheets from one conveyor to the other. As the sheets travel forward with the strings 34, they come into the field of action of transferring devices 50, which initiate their delivery to the ruling apparatus B, vance to a path at ri ht angles, or at least transverse, to that'which they followed in the apparatus A. The inner edges of the sheets, or those toward the apparatus B, as propelled b the strings 34, ass over an idle bed-r01 52 (Figs. 4 an 5) journaled in the frame be neath the devices 50. These devices are carried by a shaft 54 having hearings in brackets rising above the lower portion of the frame 10 and driven at a constant speed through equal ratio gearing from the camshaft 24. As a result of this connection, the pen and gate-controlling cams of apparatus A and the transferring devices 50 operate in never-changing synchronism. The driving shown is a convenient one for obtaining the desired synchronous operation of the elements, it is to be understood that in this connection, and wherever, in the apparatus, similar conditions are sought, any gearing or other connecting organization which produces a definite time relation comes within the scope of my invention. Each of the transferring devices 50 (Figs. 7 and 8) includes a rotatable support or head 62, fixed upon the shaft 54 for adjustment both as to longitudinal position and angle circumferentiall of the shaft by set-screws 63. One side 0' the'support 62 is faced off at 64 to receive a sheet-engaging member 66, which is guided for movement upon said face by screws or-studs 68 threaded into the support and having heads outside the member 66 which retain the latter in place. The screws pass through slots 70 extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation, and which permit the members 66 to yield in this direction. These members are shown as sector-shaped, each having at its arcuate surface a contact-portion or shoe 74, of some such yieldable material as rubber, arranged to engage the sheets upon the roll 52 when it comes, in the rotation of the shaft 54, opposite said roll, and to seize and advance them in the direction of the ruling apparatus B. This action continues while the sector is rotatin through the circumferential space occupie by the shoe, and then ceases until the succeeeding turn, the action being thus intermittent. Threaded through the end of the member 66, opposite the sheetengaging portion 74, is a screw 76 passing through an opening in an abutment 78, which extends at an angle over the member 66 from a projection upon the support 62. The threaded portion of the screw 76 is extended sufiiciently toward the abutment to permit it to receive a nut 80, and between this nut and the abutment is located a spring 82 exerting its force to press the sheet-engaging shoe 7 4 outwardly from the shaft 54, movement in this direction being arrested by the contact of the ended the slots 70 with the guide-screws68. Movement of the nut 80 upon the screw 76 allows the tension of the spring 82 to be varied, and therefore the force with which the shoe 74 is pressed against the sheets upon the roll 52. By

turning the screw 76 through its opening into the adjacent slot 70, it may be brought into contact with the guide-screw 68 in such slot, and thus be caused to vary the normal distance of the engagin member 74 from the roll 52 when these e ements come into cooperation. By this variation in the spring guide members 88' extending longitudinallyof the frame. In the gage-plate are openings 90, there being one to receive and allow the passage of eachof the strings 34. Thus the ga e can beadjusted without interference with the strings, and yet these parts be maintained in such relation. that the arresting of the pro ress of the sheets byvthe gage is certain. T e change in the location of the brackets 40 alon their supporting rod under the controlo the set-screws 44 enables the operator to exactl aline the strin s with the openings, to avoi contact with t e gage and consequent wear of the strings. To vary the position ofthe sheets when they are seized by the transferring devices 50, the gage is adjustable, there preferably being means for moving its opposite extremities simultaneously at the same rate and maintaining it at rightan les to thestrings.

For this pur ose, a sha t 92 and a pair of alined stub s afts 93,- 93 are provided, arran ed transversely of the frame 10 parallel to t e gage, and so located as tobe beyond its maximum ran e of movement in each direction. Upon t ese shafts are mounted pairs of alined sprockets 94, 94, ovei' which operate chains 96, 96, each secured at 98 to an end of the bar 86. Carried upon'one ex? tremity of the shaft 92 is a crank 100, by

vwhich the attached shaft and the sprocketgearing may be turned, and by the connections of the chains to the bar 86, the gage moved to anyappropriate point. It is best adjusted, for the sheet in the direction in which the ruling apparatus A is operating, so that the sheets, when seized by the transfer devices, will be kept at the'o perators side of the second apparatus B in substantially the relation n which they'are to travel throu h and be acted upon by said apparatus. ne end of the bar 86 moves over an indicating scale 102, which may be inscribed upon the upper surface o f guide member 88 at the side of which is situated the crank 100. The graduations of this scale may be in sheet-dimenparticular dimension of sions, say in inches, in the direction in which the apparatus A has ruled, and across which vapparatus B is to rule, and permits the operator readily, and without trial, to set the gage for the most favorable presentation of the sheets to this second apparatus.

vCarried upon the gage-structure are sheetengaging and rebound-preventing means, here shown as consisting of pairs of lower and upper rolls 104 and '106, respectively (Fig. 6). These are rotatably mounted, upon brackets 108 fixed adjustably on the bar 86 by screws 1 10 threaded throu h the brackets for contact with the bars. mm the lower portion of each bracket, projecting in the direction of advance of the sheets from the apparatus A, is a stud 112, about which is rotatable the roll 104. The'peripheral surface of this roll at 114 is concentric to the axis, and adjacent to this, at the side from which the sheets come, is a bevel-surface 116. Each roll 106 is rotatable about astud 118 extending from the top of its bracket 1 parallel to the stud 112, each roll 106 having a concentric surface 120 for co-operation with the surface 114 of the companion roll, and an inclined surface 122 of considerable length, it bein substantially conical. There is a clearance b permitting lateral movement of the roll and a suflicient separation between'the surfaces 114 and 120 of each roll-pair to enable-the forward edge 'of any sheet which is to be ruled to enter between them. Normally, these surfaces are in contact, while the surfaces 116 and 122 conver e toward them in the direction of travel 0 the sheets. If a sheet, as it rests upon the strings, is curved upwardly therefrom at its forward end, so that it might'not lie properly upon the roll 52 for-engagement by the transferring deetween each stud 118 and the opening. in the roll 106 which receives it, thisvices, or might not be arrested at the correct time by the gage, this upturned portion strikes the inclined surfaces 122, and is bent down and straightened, so that it contacts with the meeting point of these surfaces with the opposite inclined surfaces 116 of the rolls 104. If the sheet contacting with the rolls is straight, its forward edge comes directly into the position just indicated. In either case, the arriving sheet is forced by its *mome'ntum'and the frictional engagement of the strings between the surfaces 114 and 120, the rolls 106 rising under the influence of the sheet to permit this. When thus positioned, the edge 'of the sheet is in contact with the gage in the desired relation for transfer, and is held by" the engagement of the rolls against rebound.

It will. be seen that if the sheets were delivered from the conveyor 30 to the transfer mechanism in the same horizontal plane and in sufiicientl close proximity to one another to ren er the operation economical of time, the sheet following that receding it would, upon the stopping of t e latter by the gage, tend to strike against its rear edge, and then, by the advancing force of the conveyor, be crumpled up or otherwise displaced, so that the engagement of the portion 74 of the transferring devices in the desired relation could not be had. To prevent this, the sheets are. overlappedupon the strings 34. To this end', the u per runs of the strings travel in different orizontal planes. Instead of passing directly from the roll 36 to the adjustable ,rolls 38, they, after leaving the former roll, turn rearwardly over a roll 124 (Figs. 5 and 10), which is journaled transversely and idly across theframe 10 between the runs of the strings. From the roll 124 they pass rearwardly about a roll 126 arranged to turn in the frame parallel to the roll 124, and then again forwardly beneath the last-named roll to the rolls 38. Theplane of the upper runs of the strings is thereby lowered beyond the roll 124 beneath the portions to the rear of it by substantially the diameter of said roll. As a result of this, when the forward sheet is stopped by the gage, the setting of this member being such that at this time the rear edge of the arrested sheet is ad'- jacent to but out of co-operation with the roll 124, the succeedin sheet passing from the elevated portion 0 the strings will be projected over the stopped sheet and caused to lap it. Consequently, there will be no interference between said sheets, and as the transfer of the leader is effected by the devices 50, that following will continue forward in its lapped relation until the preceding sheet has passed from beneath it, and will in turn be held by the gage.

Associated with the string-roll. 36 is a pair of pressure-rolls 128, 128, each preferably rotating idly upon an arm 130 adjustable as to angle and position longitudinally of the'roll 36 upon a spindle 132, the arms being held in place by screws 134 passing through them into contact with the spindle. The rolls turning together with the spindle and forced by gravity against the sheets carried beneath them, hold these down into engagement with the strings 34 and upon the bed-roll 52, so that the strin s may not slip appreciably beneath the s meets, and .the edges over the roll 52 willbe properly presented to the transferring devices. If desired, yieldable peripheral portions or tires be carried by the rolls to insure their e ective engagement with the sheets.

The adjacent extremities of the ruling apparatus A. and. B are connected by a frame- 138 (Figs. 2 and 4), forming a portion of the transfer mechanism. This frame is inclined upwardly from points adjacent to the ends of the bed-roll 52 into proximlty with the receivlng end of the feeding mechanism of ap aratus B. In the lower extremity of this rame, and extending transversely of it, is. journaled a roll 140 having operating over it spaced endless conveyors or tapes 142, the opposite extreme ities of which pass about an idle roll 144 arranged to rotate at the receiving end of the ruling apparatus B. This apparatus, like that already briefly described, has mounted upon its frame 146 feed-rolls 148, 148, over the lower of which operates a cloth 150, which is a portion of the conveying system. its movable ruling devices or pens 152 and its gate 154 (Fig. 1) are controlled by cams 156.,and '158, respectively, upon a shaft 160 arranged in a similar position to that in apparatus A. Levers 159 actuate the pens in. accordance with the contour of the cams 156. A definite time relation is maintained between this cam-shaft and the shaft 54 of the tranferring mechanism by constant-speed gearing 162, which may be of the sprocket type, directly connecting said shafts. The consequence of this is that the transferring devices 50 and a transverse shaft 166 journaled in the extreme f( irward end of the frame 10. The opposite extremity of the shaft 166 is united bg spiral gearing 168 to a short shaft 170 lgs. 3 and 4) mounted to rotate in the lower portion of the frame 10 at the side toward ruling apparatus B. This shaft 170 is, in turn, connected by sprocket-gearing 171 to a shaft 172 journaled transversely of the frame 146 beneath the rolls 148, I48. To allow the rate of advance of the conveying system of apparatus B to be altered to provide for the operation of the ruling devices upon sheets of different dimensions, there is interposed between this shaft 172 and the shaft of the lower roll 148 changespeed gearing 174.

In its travel between the feed-roll-shaft and the shaft 166, the chain of the gearing 164 engageda sprocket 176 (Fig. 2) fixed upon a short shaft 178 rotatable in the outer side of the frame 10. This shaft is joined by sprocket-gearing 180 to the shaft of the strin -roll 36, and spur-gearing 182 rotates the c oth-roll 32 from the string-roll. The ratio of this gearing 182 is such that the roll 36 is driven at a greater peripheral speed than the roll 32, causing a more rapid adtransferring tapes to allow the rolls to bear vance of the strings .341 than the cloth 30, this resulting in a prompt-delivery of the sheets to the transfer devices and at a rate which will causethem to effectively enter between the rebound-preventing rolls 104 and 106. The inclined transferring conveyors or tapes 142 should operate at the same speed as the cloth 150 of theruling apparatus B. Otherwise, assuming that the rate of advance were more rapid, the sheets would be crowded against the gate 154 and displaced upon the cloth 150. If t he feed of thetransfer-tapes were slower, the desired close spacing, with resulting efliciency as to speed of operation by the ruling apparatus B, would be impaired. I therefore preferably rotate the roll 140 through sprocket-gearing 184 from the lower feedroll 148 to give these rolls the same peripheral speed.

As the sheets are delivered by the transfer devices 50 above the roll 140, they are held" down to insure their advance after the arcuate surfaces leave them in their rotation, by idle pressure-rolls 186, 186 (Fi 5). These correspond generally to the rolls 128, being mounted upon arms 188 carried by a spindle 190 rotatable in brackets at the endof the frame 138 of the transferring mechanism. Screws 192 serve to fix the arms in any desired position across the upon different sizes of sheets as they are stopped by the gage 84. The rolls 186 may, if desired, be rubber-shod similarly to the rolls 128.

To allow the correct transferring of the sheets by the devices 50, they are separated asthey are carried toward the apparatus B by the tapes 142, each sheet movin away from that which succeeds it and w 'ch is coming into contact with the gage 84 td await seizure by the transferrin To eliminate the gaps thus pr need between the sheets and to arrange them to be engaged by the gate 154 with completece'p: tainty, lapping means is associated with the transferring tnechanism. I have shownthis as consisting of rolls 194 (Figs. 2 and 4) adjustably secured by set-screws 196 to a shaft 198 extending transversel between the runs of the tapes. The-shaft 98 is journaled in bearing-blocks 200, 200 arran ed to slide upn the side bars of the frame 38, these blocks having secured to them at 202 endless sprocket-chains 204, 204, which operate over alined pairs of sprockets 206, 206 fixed upon shafts 208, 208 journaled iii the frame. One of these shafts 208 carries at its extremity adjacent to.the operators position, a crank 210, which may be turned in either direction to cause the travel of the upper runs of the chains 204 up or down the transfer-tapes to correspondingly shift the position of the rolls 194. The shaft 198 exdevices.

tends at its outer end through a slot in the side bar of the frame 138, carrying at this point a sprocket 211 engaged by the chain of the gearing 184. The diameter of this sprocket is such that the peripheries of the rolls travel at a greater speed than the tapes. The rotation of the rolls 194 is in the direction of the arrow appearing in Fig. 4 of the drawings. As the forward edge of each "sheet advancing up the tapes strikes these rolls, the frictional engagement of the tapes, together with that of the more rapldly rotating r'olls, urges the forward extremity of the sheet upon the roll-surfaces. Here 'it is raised above and carried over the rear edge of the preceding sheet which has been stopped by the gate 154, the adjustment of the roll-shaft through the crank 210 producing the desired close proximity of .this edgeof the forward sheet tothe rolls. The sheets are consequently overlapped, and when thatin advance is released by the lifting of the gate 154, the sheets continue together' in their lapped relation, insuring accurate engagement of the gate" with the second sheet, which has been prevented by this overlapping from being thrust beneath the forward sheet, as mi ht be the case were the overlap ing mechanism omitted. Since it may be dbsired, as when simple cross or faint ruling is being performed by the apparatus-B and the gate is not in use, to put this lapping mechanism out of action, the

tapes are arranged to be shifted to operate a in contact with the peripheries of the rolls 194, rather than between them. To enable I this to'be accomplished, I have mounted at the lower' ortion of the transfer-tapes, adjacent to t e forward side. of the roll 140, forks 212 (Fi 5), the opposite arms of each of which lie: I tapes.- 'These forks are secured h setscrews 214 to a s indle- 216 carried y the frame 138. The orks may be held by, their screws to bring the tapes to and maintain them in either of the desired positions between or over the rolls, thus producing in the first instance the, lapping effect, as has been described, or when they run u onthe rolls, eliminating the'lifting and apping the gage into the frame, thus permitting the location of the gage and the alinement of the sheet to be varied. One or morehelical twists in the tapes are made to move the sheets laterally into contact with the age 218. This is as illustrated in Fig. 2. The movement which must be imparted to at theedges of one of the the sheets to bring them against the gage is but slight, since they have been approximately positioned by the gage 84: prior to their seizure by the transferring devices 50. It is customary for the operator, in ad -justing the machine preparatory to setting it in action at the beginning of anew piece of work, to vary the position of the upper cloths of each ruling apparatus by rotating the lower feed-roll 12 or 148 by cranks applied to the shafts of the rolls. These cranks are customarily fast upon the shafts, so that they turn therewith in the operation of the machine, and are therefore often in the way'of'the operator. This difficulty I avoid by providing such cranks or manual actuators normally disengaged from their shafts, so that they hang motionless under the influence of gravity, instead of rotating. Such an arrangement is particularly illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings, where the crank 222', mounted to turn upon the shaft of one of the feed-rolls,=as 148, has a cylindrical hub 224 recessed to surround :1 cylindrical enlargement or sleeve 226 fast upon the shaft. This sleeve contains at; its outer end one or more depressions 228 formed at or near its periphery, these be-. ing arranged for engagement by. a projection furnished bya pm 230 fixed in the crank at the inner end of the hub-recess. A spring 232, interposed between this extremity of the recess and the sleeve 226, holds the pin 230normally out of engagement with the depressions, so that the shaft turns within it, leaving the crank hanging idly in a vertical position. d When the operator wishes to turn the roll to position the associated cloth, it is only necessary for him to press in the crank longitudinally of the shaft until one of the depressions is entered by the pin. This looks the crank to the shaft to compel the rotation of the latter when the crank is turned. Upon release by the operator, the spring forces the pin out they would be almost certain to introduce cumulative errors into the timing of the apparatus, as the number of sheets acted upon by the machine increased. The operator first at apparatus A sets the under-lifts for his pens or pen-beams to cause the pens to rise and strike at the 'desired points upon the sheets. The variation in the rate at or definiteness of time-relation between the cam shaft,'and therefore the gate of ruling apparatus A, and the devices 50 of the transferring mechanism Qthe operator will 'be assured that for each sheet ruled, the devices will act in perfect harmony to transfer it to the apparatus 13. Since, however, the. rate and extent of advance of the conveying system of apparatus A changes the time at which the sheets arrive at the transferring mechanism, this may be compensated for by the angular adjustment of the devices 50 about their shaft, so that as 'each sheet is arrested by the gage 84, it is seized by the revolving surfaces 74 for delivery to the transferring tapes 142. At the gage the sheets are straightened and held against reverse movement and displacement by the rolls 104, 106; and as the surfaces 74 leave them after they have been grasped between these and the bed-roll 52 and started on their way up the tapes, the feeding action in the new direction toward apparatus B, or one at right angles to the preceding path, is continued by the tapes, the initiation of this movement being assured by the pressure of therolls 186. At apparatus the operator has provided for the correct delivery of the sheets in accordance with the dimension transverse to that ruled at apparatus A by an alteration in the changespeed gearing 1 74, so that the time-relation between the sheet-presentation and pen action is changed by their feeding means, rather than by their arresting means, as was the case at apparatus A. Both the conveyors which feed and thegates which arrest may, however, be considered as means for controlling the sheets. This conveyor-rate adjustment,-it should be noted, has no effect whatever on the gate and pen-controlling cams of the second ruling apparatus, so that there is no tendency to impair the exact synchronous action between this apparatus, the corresponding portion of apparatus A and the transferring mechanism. Consequently, each sheet, as it is delivered by the transferring. devices to apparatus B, finds the ruling devices andgate in condition to act in the correct time-relation upon it, so that the pens of the second apparatus may be caused to be selectively lifted by their cams 156 and to strike in definite predetermined relation to the lines produced by the first-acting apparatus, with the same ac- I claim: 1.- In a duplex ruling'machine, sets of ruling devices arranged to successively rule intersecting lines parallel to theedges of a sheet and both ways thereof, and moving means for'the ruling devices of a set, said means being-constructed and arranged for direct and positive initiation of its action by an element of the machine. to begin and terminate the lines to be ruled at predetermined points with reference to the lines produced by a previously-acting set of rul mg dev ces.

2. Inaduplex ruling machine, a plurality of sets of ruling devices, means for delivering-sheets to the sets of devices successively so that the lines produced .by one set will'extend in a difi'erent direction on said sheets from those produced by another set, and means for moving particular ruling devices of a set into and out of contact-with the sheets so that the lines produced thereby will terminate in "predetermined relation to their points ofintersection with the lines produced by another, previously-acting set. 3. In a ruling machine, a plurality ofrulmg devices arranged to act successivelv upon the work, a plurality of work-controlling means one co-operating with each ruling .device, means for actuating the controlling means in predetermined time-relation to one another, and means arranged to vary such time-relation; 4 a

4. In av ruling machine, a plurality of independently movlable ruling devices acting upon the sheets to be ruled, a plurality of sheet-controlling means one associated with each ruling device, means for actuating the sheet-controlling means in synchronism, and means arranged to change the relative time of action of the plural sheet-controlling means while maintaining such synchronism.

5. In a ruling machine. a plurality of independently movable ruling devices acting upon the sheets to be ruled, a plurality of sheet-controlling means one associated with each ruling device,*means for actuatingtheruling devices and the sheet-controlling means in synchronism, and means arranged to vary the time of action of sheet-controlling means of each ruling device'while maintaining such synchronism.

e presence of 6. In a duplex ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices arranged to produce intersecting lines, means for moving a ruling device into and out of contact with the work at pointsdefinitely located with respect to an intersecting line produced by a previously-acting ruling device, means for presenting the work to the ruling devices, and, means arranged to vary the rate at which the work is acted upon by the ruling devices;

7. In a duplex-ruling machine, a lurality of sets of ruling devices, means or delivering sheets to the sets of devices to produce lines extending in different directions upon said sheets, means arranged to change I the rate of operation of the delivering means, and means for moving a setof ruling devices into and out of contact with the sheets at points definitely located with respect to the lines produced by another set.

8. In a ruling machine, aplurality of ruling devices arranged'toact successively upon the work, a plurality of work-controlling means one co-operating with each ruling device, means for actuating the controlling means 1n predetermined time-relation to one another, and means arranged to vary separately the rate at which the work-controlling means act.

9. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of ruling devices successively, acting upon the same side of sheets to be ruled means.

for feeding the sheets to one set'of ruling devices, means'by which the ruled sheet are received and are fed to another set of ruling devices, and sheet-controlling means associated with each feeding means and cor-- responding ruling devices.

10. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of, ruling devices, means arranged to cause,

the sets of ruling "devices to act successively upon the sheets to-be ruled in definite time relation to one another, means for feeding the sheets to'one set of ruling devices, means by which the ruled sheets are received and are fed to another set of ruling devices, sheet-controlling means associated with each feeding means and corresponding set of ruling devices, and means arranged to vary the rate of feed of the sheets to oneof the "sets of ruling devices independently of the feed to an associated set. 11. In a ruling machine, a plurality of set of ruling devices successivelyacting upon' the sheets to be ruled, means for feeding the:

sheets to one set of ruling devices, means by whichthe' ruled sheets are received and are fed to another set of ruling devices, sheetcontrolling means associated with each feeding means and corresponding set of ruling devices, means arranged to vary the'rate of one feeding means,.and means arranged to vary the rate at which a sheet-controlling means acts.

12. In a ruling machine, a plurality of &

independently movable ruling devices acting upon the sheets to be ruled, a plurality of sheet-controlling means one associated with each ruling device, means for actuating the ruling devices and the sheet-controlling means in synchronism, means for feeding the sheets to the ruling devices, and means arranged to vary the ratejoi feed of the sheets by one only of the feeding means.

13. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatuseach comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the same side of the work as the ruling device of an associated apparatus and actuating means for each ruling device, of means for operating one actuating means, and constant-speed gearing connecting said actuating means and the actuating means of another ruling apparatus.

14. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a pluralityof ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work and actuating means for each ruling device, of means for operating said actuating means in constant timc-relation means for feeding Work to each ruling device, and means arranged to vary the rate of advance of one only of the feeding means.

15. In aduplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into andout of contact with the work and actuating means for each ruling device, of means for transferring work from one ruling apparatus to another and for stopping the advance of the work in preparation for v such transfer, and means foroperating a plurality of the actuating means and the transferring means in synchronism.

16. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work and actuating means for each ruling device, of means for transferring work from one ruling apparatus to another and for stopping the advance of the work in preparation for such transfer, means for driving an actuating means, and constant-speed gearing connecting said actuating means to the transferring means.

17. In a duplexruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling appar tus each comprisin a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work and actuating means for each ruling device, of means for transferring work from one ruling apparatus to another, means for driving one actuating means, and constant-speed gearing connecting said actuating means to the transferring means and the transferring means to another actuating means.

18. In a duplex ruling machine, the comamaaeo bination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work and actuating means for each-ruling device, of means for transferring work from one ruling apparatus to another, the same side of said work being presented to the ruling devices of the plural apparatus, means for operating a plurality of the actuating means and the transferring means in synchronism, and means arranged to vary the time of operation of one of said means.

19. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device, sheetcontrolling means associated therewith, means for transferring sheets from one ruling apparatus to another and for stopping the advance of the sheets in preparation for such transfer, and mechanism for operating the sheet-controlling means and transferring means in synchronism.

20. In a duplex ruling machine, the cornbination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device, of sheetcontrolling means associated therewith, means for transferring sheets from one ruling apparatus to another, mechanism for operating the sheet-controlling means and transferring means in synchronism, and means arranged to vary the time of operation of one only of said means.

21. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling a para-- tus each comprising conveyin means or the Work, a ruling device movab e into and out of contact with the work upon the corresponding conveying means, actuating means for each ruling device and sheet-controlling means associated with each ruling device, of means for transferring sheets to be ruled from the conveying means of one ruling apparatus to that of another and for changing the direction of advance of the sheets throiwh substantially ninety degrees.

22. 'n a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work and arranged to produce with an associated device intersecting lines on one side of the work, actuating means for each ruling device and sheet-controlling means associated with each ruling device, of means for transferring sheets to be ruled from one ruling apparatus to another, and mechanism for operating the-actuating means, controlling means and transferring means in synchronism.

23. in a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality'of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work. actuating means for each ruling device and sheetcontrolling means associated with each ruling device, of means for transferring sheets to be ruled from one ruling apparatus to another, mechanism for operating the actuating means, controlling means and transferring means in synchronism, and means arranged to vary the time of operation of one only of said means. 7

24. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination. with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work, actuiting means for eachruling device and sheetcontro'lling means associated with each ruling device, of means for feeding the sheets to be ruled to each ruling device, and means for stopping the feed of the sheets and then transferring them from one feeding means to another.

25. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work, actuating means for each ruling device and sheetcontrolling means associated with each ruling device, of means for feeding the sheets .to be ruled to each ruling device, means arranged to vary the rate of advance of the feeding means for one only of the rulin devices, and means for transferring the s eets from one feeding means to another.

26. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into a d out of contact with the same side of the work, actuating means for each ruling device and sheet-controlling means associated with each ruling device, of means for feeding the sheets to be ruled to each ruling device, means for transferring the sheets from one feeding means to another, and mechanism for operating the actuating means, controlling means and transferring means in synchronism.

27 In a duplex ruling machine, the ,combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a ruling device movable into and out of contact with the work, actuating means for each ruling device and sheetcontrolling means asosciated'with each ruling device, of means for feeding the sheets to be ruled to each ruling device, means for transferring the sheets from one feeding means to another, mechanism for operating the actuating means, controlling means and transferring means in synchronism, and means arranged to vary the time of operation of one only of said means.

28. In a duplex ruling machine, a plurality of pens arranged to consecutively produce intersecting lines, lifting means for the pens, and means for actuating the lifting means of a pen, said actuating means being constructed and arranged to begin and terminate the line ruled upon the work by the en indefinite relation to the line produced y the previously-acting pen. I 29. In a sheet-ruling machine, sets of pens arranged to act successively upon the same side of the sheets, a gate co-operating with each set of pens, and means for actuating the gates in predetermined time-relation. 30. In a sheet-ruling machine, sets of pens independently movable into contact with the same side of the sheets to be ruled, lifting means for each set, a plurality of gates one associated with each set of pens, and means for actuating the gates in synchronism.

31. In a sheet-ruling machine, sets of pens independently movable into contactwith the same side of the sheets to be ruled, means arranged to lift the pens in each set independentl of each other, a gate associated with eac set of pens, and means for actuthe lifting means and the gates. in

atingt sync ronism.

32. In a duplex ruling machine, a lurality of pens arranged to consecutive y duce intersecting lines, lifting means or the pens, means arranged to actuate the lifting means of a pen to cause it to strike in definite relation to the line produced by the previously-acting pen, and means arranged to change the rate at which the sheets are acted upon by the pens. V

33. In a duplex ruling machine, a plurality of sets of pens, a gate co-operating with each set of pens, a plurality of conveyors one for feeding sheets to each set of pens and means arranged to change the speed 0 one only of the conveyors.

34. In a sheet-ruling machine, sets of pens arranged to act successively upon the same side of the sheets, a plurality of gates one co-operating with each set of pens, means for actuating the gates in predetermined time-relation, and means arranged to change the time of action of a gate.

35. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of pens, a plurality of conveyors one for feeding sheets to eachset of pens, a gate associated with each set of pens, and means arranged to change the speed of one only of the conveyors.

36. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of pens, a plurality of conveyors one for feeding sheets, to each set of pens, a gate associated with each set of pens, means arranged to change the speed of a conveyor for one set of pens, and means acting independently of such change of conveyor-speed and arranged to change the rate at which the gate of another set of pens acts.

37. In a sheet-ruling machine, independently movable sets of pens, lifting means for each set, a plurality of gates one associated with each set of pens, means for actuating the gates in synchronism, a conve or for feeding sheets to each set of pens, an means pro- ' independently ofeach other.

39. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a set of pens and lifting means therefor, said ruling apparatus being arranged to cause the sets of pens to rule intersecting lines on one side of the work, of motor means for the lifting means of the plural apparatus, and constant-speed gearing interposed between saidmotor means and said lifting means.

40 In a duplex ruling machine, the com bination with a lurality of ruling apparatus each com rising a set of pens and lifting means there or, of means for operating the lifting means in constant time-relation, a plurality of conveyors one co-operating with the pens of each apparatus, and means arranged to vary the speed of a conveyor independently of an associated conveyor.

ll. In a duplex ruling machine, the com bination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each com ris'm a set of pens and lifting means there or, o a rotatable sheet-transferring device interposed between the ruling ap aratus, means for stopping the sheets to receive the actiouoii the transferring device, and means for operating the transferring device and the lifting means of the plural ruling apparatus in synchronism.

42. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a set of pens and lifting means therefor, of conveying means arranged to advance sheets through one apparatus in a direction transverse to the advance through another, a rotatable sheettransferring device interposed between the ruling apparatus, and a constant-speed gearing connecting the transferring device and the lifting means of the plural apparatus.

43. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a set of pens and lifting means therefor, of conveying means arranged to advance sheets through one apparatus in a direction transverse to the advance through another, a rotatable sheet ferring device and the lifting means of the plural ruling apparatus in synchronism, and means arranged to change the time of operation of one of said means.

44. In a duplex ruling machine, the conibination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a set of pens, said rul-l ing apparatus being arranged to cause the sets of pens to rule intersecting lines on one sideof the work, and a plurality of gates one 'c'o-operating with each set of pens, of a rotatable device for transferring sheets from one ruling apparatus to another, and means for operating the gates and transferring device in synchronism.

45. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each comprising a set of pens arranged to act upon the same side of a sheet as an associated set of pens, lifting means for each set of pens and a plurality of gates one associated with each set of pens, of a rotatable device for transferringthe sheets from one apparatus to another, and means for operating the lifting means, gates and transferring device in synchronism.

46. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling apparatus each com rising a set of pens and all such sets operatmg upon the same side of the work, lifting means for each set of pens and a plurality of ates one associated with each .set of pens, o a rotatable device for transferring the sheets from one apparatus toanother, means for operating the lifting means, gates and transferring device in synchronism, and means arranged to change the time of operation of a gate and of the transferring device.

47. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality of ruling a paratus each comprising a set of pens, 1i ting means for each set of pens and a plurality of gates one associated with each set of pens, of a conveyor for feeding sheets to each set of pens, one of said conveyors advancing said sheets in a direction transverse to that of another conveyor, a rotatable transferring device receiving the sheets fed by one conveyor and delivering them to another, and means for operating the lifting means, gates and transferring device in synchronlsm.

48. In a duplex ruling machine, the combination with a plurality'of ruling apparatus cache-comprising a set of pens, lifting means for each set of pens and a plurality of gates one associated with each set of pens, of a conveyor for feeding sheets to each set of pens, one of said conveyors advancing said sheets in a direction transverse to that of another conveyor, a rotatable transferring device receiving the sheets fed by one conveyor and delivering them to another, means for operating the lifting means, gates I eratin g and transferring device in synchronism, means arranged to change the time of operation of a gate and of the transferring device, and means arranged to vary the speed of a conveyor. I

49. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus, movable transferring means arranged to contact with the sheets to deliver them from one ruling apparatus to the other, and means arranged to vary the pressure of the transferring 4 means upon the sheets.

v 50. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus, transferring means arranged to deliver sheets to be ruled from one apparatus to the other and including a revoluble sheet-engaging member, and means for changing t e normal distance of said member from the axis of revolution.

51. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus, transferring means arranged to deliver sheets to be ruled from one apparatus to the other and including a rotatable support having guides, and a member sliding upon the guides and arranged for contact with the sheets.

52. In a duplex rulingmachine, co-opruling apparatus, transferring means arranged to deliver sheets to be ruled from one apparatus to the other and including a rotatable support, a sheet-engaging member movable upon the support, and a spring interposed between the member and supportl.

'53. In a duplex ruling machine, co'operating rulin apparatus, transferring means arrange to deliver sheets to be ruled from one apparatus to the other and including a rotatable support, and a member hav in an arcuate sheet-engaging surface and being mounted to move upon the support radiall to said surface.

54. erating rulin apparatus, transferrin means arrange to deliver sheets to be ride from one apparatus to the other and including a rotatable support having guides and an abutment, a sheet engaging member arranged to move upon the guides, and a spring interposed between the abutment and member.

. 55. In a duplex ruling machine, oo-operating ruling apparatus, transferring means arranged to deliver sheets to be rule d from one apparatus to the other and including a rotatable support having guides and an abutment, a sheet-engaging member arranged'to move upon the guides, a spring interposed between the abutment and member, and means arranged to vary the normal position of the member upon the support.

56. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, and

X transferring mechanism including a gage n a" duplex rulin machine CQ'OP-I having means arranged to engage the ends and adjacent faces of the sheets and being movable in the direction of approach of the sheets from the first-acting apparatus.

57. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be'ruled, transferring mechanism including a movable sheet-gage, and means arranged to move the opposite ends of the gage simultaneously.

58. In a duplex ruling machine,- co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, transferring mechanism including a gage movable .in the direction of approach of the sheets from the first-acting-apparatus, and position-indicatin means associated with the gage and gra uated in accordance with the dimensions. of the sheets to be ruled.

59. In a ruling machine, ruling devices,

a sheet-conveyor co-o rating therewith,

means for arresting t e progress of the sheets upon the conve or, and means for preventing rebound of t e sheets upon contact with the arresting means.

60. In a ruling machine, ruling devices, a sheet-conveyor co-o rating therewith,

means for arresting t e pro ess of the ality of ruling apparatus through which sheets to'be ruled pass, transferring mechanism arranged to stop the sheets and change their direction of advance, and means engaging opposite sides of the sheets when they are stopped by the transferring mechanism.

63; In a duplex ruling machine co-operating ruling ap aratus arranged to act successively upont e sheets to be ruled, and transferring mechanism including a rotatable roll having a conical surface for engagement with the sheets.

64. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively-upon the sheets to be ruled, and transferring mechanism including a pair of, rolls rotatable about axes extending toward the first-acting apparatus and arran ed to contact with the opposite sides of t e sheets.

65. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, and

. transferring mechanism including a pair of rotatable rolls having sheet-engaging surating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, and transferring mechanism including a pair of rotatable rolls having sheet-enga 'ng surfaces converging in the direction 0 advance of the sheets from the first-acting apparatus, one of said rolls being yieldable toward and from the other. V

67. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, and transferring mechanism including a pair of rolls rotatable about axes extending toward the first-acting apparatus and having converging sheet-engaging surfaces and adjacent sheet-engaging surfaces parallel to the axis of rotation.

68. In a ruling machine, ruling devices,.

a sheet-conveyor co-operating therewith, means for arresting the progress of the sheets upon the conveyor, and opposite sheet-en gaging rolls associated with the arresting means, there being provision for yield between the rolls to admit the sheet between them.

69. In a rulin machine, the combination with a rulin evice, of a sheet-conveyor co-operating t erewith, and a movable gage having an opening through which the conor asses.

0. In a duplex ruling machine, co-opcrating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the, sheets to be ruled, transferring means arranged to deliver the sheets from one apparatus tothe other, and

' means including a single conveyor for lapping the sheets delivered to the transferring means.

71. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling ap aratus arranged to act successively upon t e sheets to be ruled, transferring means arranged to deliver the sheets from one apparatus to the other, and lapping means for the sheets situated between the first-acting apparatus and the transferring means and between said transferring means and the second-acting apparatus.

72. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act suc- :essively upon the sheets to be ruled, trans- I'erring means arranged to deliver the sheets from one apparatus to the other, and means for lapping the sheets delivered by the transferring means, there being rovision to render said lapping means ine ective.

73. In a duplex ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, transferring means arranged to deliver the sheets from one apparatus to the other and including a gage, and means for lapping the sheets as they contact with the gage.

74. In a duplex '"ruling machine, co-operating ruling apparatus arranged to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled, and a plurality of lapping mechanisms acting successively upon the sheets in their progress through the plural apparatus.

75. In a duplex ruling machine, cooperat ing ruling apparatus arranged to act successively u on the sheets to be ruled, and a plurality o lapping mechanisms acting successively upon thesheets in their progress through the plural apparatus, there being provision for rendering one of said lapping mechanisms ineffective.

76. The combination with; ruling devices, of means for feeding sheets thereto, said means including a rotatable member, power means for rotating said member and for driving the feeding means, a manual actuator. carried bythe rotatable member, connecting means for causing said member and actuator to rotate together, and means for normally maintaining the connecting means disenga ed.

77. T e combination with ruling devices, of an endless conveyor for delivering sheets thereto, said conveyor including a support- .ing shaft, power means for rotating the shaft, a crank carried b the shaft, means for causin the crank an shaft to rotate together, an means for normally maintaining the crank disengaged from'the shaft.

78. In a ruling machine, the combination with ruling devices, of a plurality of endless conveyors receiving sheets from the ruling. devices, one of said conveyors delivering to and being spaced from another, and an endless member bridging the space between the conveyors and resting upon one of them.

79. In a' ruling machlne, the combination with ruling devices, of two endless conveyors receiving sheets from the ruling devices, one of said conveyors delivering to and being spaced from the other, an endless member bridging the space between the conveyors and resting upon one of them, and a su port for the endless member associated wit the other conveyor.

80. In a ruling machine, the combination with.ruling devices, of two conveyors consisting respectively of a single endless member and a iplurality of parallel endless members, one of said conveyors delivering to and being spaced from the other, a roll extending between the runs of the plural-member conveyor, and endless strings resting upon the single conveying member and extending between the plural conveying members into contact with the roll.

' 81. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with two ruling apparatus, each having sheet-controlling means, a pen-beam, pen-beam-operating means, and a sheet-conveyor, of means for driving the pen-beam-operating mechanisms 5 in synchromsm and the conveyors at different relative speeds, and means fordelivering the ruled sheets from one apparatus to the other.

Signed at Boston, in the county of Suf- 10 folk and Stateof Massachusetts,.this 14th day of September 1921.

HARMON E. LINDBLADH.

DISCLAIMER 1,813,940.Harm0n E. Lindbladh, Brookline, Mass. RULING MACHINE. Patent dated July 14, 1931. Disclaimer filed January 11, 1934, by the assignee, The Lindbladh Corporation, and the mortgagee, Robert T. Dufiy. V Hereby enter this disclaimer to claims 8, 9, and 10, of said patent, N 0. 1,813,940, Which are in the following Words, to Wit:

8. In a ruling machine, a plurality of ruling devices arranged to act successively upon the Work, a plurality of Work-controlling means one co-operating With each ruling device, means for actuating the controlling means in predetermined timerelation to one another, and means arranged to vary separately the rate at Which the Work-controlling means act.

9. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of ruling devices successively acting upon the same side of sheets to be ruled, means for feeding the sheets to one set of ruling devices, means by which the ruled sheets are received and are fed to another set of ruling devices, and sheet-controlling means associated With each feeding means and corresponding ruling devices.

10. In a ruling machine, a plurality of sets of ruling devices, means arranged to cause the sets of ruling devices to act successively upon the sheets to be ruled in definite time relation to one another, means for feeding the sheets to one set of ruling devices, means by Which the ruled sheets are received and are fed to another set of ruling devices, sheet-controlling means associated With each feeding means and corresponding set of ruling devices, and means arranged to vary the rate of feed of the sheets to one of the sets of ruling devices independently of the feed to an associated set.

[Oflicial Gazette January 30, 1.934.] 

